Ohio senators introduce sports betting bill with 40 licenses, eBingo and iLottery

Ohio senators on Thursday introduced a plant to offer 40 three-year sports betting licenses that would cost $1 million apiece. Of those licenses, 20 would allow applicants who can bank a bet, such as Ohio's 11 casinos and racinos, to partner with online and mobile app-based betting services.

Senate Bill 176 would create 20 licenses, called type B, for in-person sports betting. If a location wants to offer online and in-person betting, the owners would need to obtain two licenses, Cincinnati Enquirer reports. No entity can hold more than five online licenses at the same time. The Class A facilities like the state’s casinos and racinos can hire a mobile application company like DraftKings, Barstool or FanDuel to serve as the sports betting operator

Ohio's professional sports teams wouldn't be guaranteed a license, but they could apply for one, said Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, who crafted the proposal. Those teams and the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament had requested their own licenses because they create the entertainment that fans bet on. 

Under the Senate bill, the new industry would be regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and assessed a 10% tax. Proceeds would go mostly toward schools, both public and private, with 2% going toward problem gaming and addiction services. License fees would be distributed in the same way.

HAPPENING NOW: Senator Kirk Schuring, joined by Senators @NirajAntani, @Manning_Nathan, @LangForOhio, @CecilThomasOH & @HearcelCraig introduce the first comprehensive gaming bill — a broad based free market economic development opportunity for Ohio. Watch live @TheOhioChannel pic.twitter.com/NjmaazrVtJ

— Ohio Senate GOP (@OhioSenateGOP) May 6, 2021

Schuring wasn't sure how much Ohio would bring in. "This is not about revenue generation. This is about something that is occurring right now in Ohio illegally," Schuring said. "We want to put guardrails around it, and we want to make sure it's being done properly with the right regulatory authority."

Lawmakers hope to move quickly on the gaming bill, passing it before the end of June. "The goal of getting sports betting done before we recess for the summer is a high priority," House Speaker Bob Cupp said Wednesday. Hearings on the bill will begin next Wednesday in the state senate. 

The proposed legislation would allow Ohioans to bet on collegiate sports, but the Ohio Casino Control Commission would decide which teams are eligible and how that's enforced. The Inter-University Council of Ohio, which represents the state's 14 public universities, had asked lawmakers to exempt collegiate sports from gambling in Ohio. Under the proposals, no bets could be placed on K-12 sports. The Ohio Lottery Commission could also accept wagers on sporting events from adults age 21 and older in sports pools. 

Any changes would take effect after Jan. 1, giving Ohioans time to adjust to the new proposals. If passed, Ohio could face a legal challenge for violating the Ohio Constitution's ban on most gambling, the nonpartisan Ohio Legislative Service Commission advised.

Senate Bill 176 would also allow for electronic bingo or eBingo at veterans or fraternal organizations. The option would be regulated by the Ohio attorney general’s office. The bill would also create a committee to study iLottery, an online lottery option. That group must submit a report by Jan. 1, 2022.